ZIMSPHERE
HARARE – Bikita Minerals, also known as The Lithium Boys, has secured their spot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League following a legal victory over Tenax. The promotion was officially confirmed yesterday by the Disciplinary Committee appointed by ZIFA, after a series of verdicts on the matter.
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| Image: Bikita Minerals/X |
The debut of Bikita Minerals in the topflight league is scheduled for March 20, where they will host Yadah FC as part of the matchday two fixtures. The venue is yet to be announced.
Additionally, a match against Herentals, who were drawn to play against the Eastern Region Division One winner on matchday one, is also on the cards for the mine-owned club.
The legal dispute between Bikita Minerals and Tenax began last year. Tenax, nicknamed Chauya Chikara, were initially crowned champions of the Eastern Region Super League (ERSL).
However, this decision was overturned when Bikita Minerals won an appeal before ZIFA ERSL.
They were awarded three points from their match against Grayham, whom they had accused of fielding an ineligible player on the final matchday.
This led to the ERSL declaring Bikita Minerals as champions, thereby transferring the promotion ticket from Tenax.
In January, Tenax escalated the matter to ZIFA at the national level. In response, the national football governing board wrote to ZIFA ERSL, nullifying Bikita’s promotion and claiming jurisdiction over the case.
The case remained with the ZIFA Appeals Committee for nearly two months without a definitive ruling.
It was only a fortnight ago that the ruling referred the matter back to the Bikita vs Grayham case, advising the ERSL to constitutionally sit and appoint a disciplinary committee to resolve the issue.
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